09: The Impact of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on the Development of Irish Traditional Music

Comhaltas Ceoltóití Èireann

Club/Society/Organisation to promote, revive, foster and preserve Irish traditional culture and especially music

• because CCÈ thought that the irish culture and music was dying

• decline in participation

• dissatisfaction with state/media support for irish trad. music

• irish trad. music was not seen as a serious art-form

  
  

• started as a Pipers Club; later incorporated all instruments

• concept of the GAA

• 1950s

• Promote Irish Traditional Music in all its forms

• Restore the playing of Harp and Uilleann Pipes in theNational Life of Ireland

• Promote irish traditional dancing

• Promote and foster traditional singing (in irish and English)

• Foster and promote irish language

• Create closer bond among all lovers of irish music

• Co-operate with all bodies working for the restoration of Irish Culture

• Establish branches throughout the country

• aim: to teach people how to play irish traditonal music and educated them about it in general

• facilitate teaching

• usually held in local schools

• for all levels and ages

• first started in the 1970s

• offer/have branch instruments —> for people to borrow —> encourage students to take up instruments

• A session is a regular activity of the branch (monthly)

• Get-together of musicians (sometimes dancers) to play and learn irish traditional music

• Unstructured performance, but often strict monotonous atmosphere

• Aim: For enjoyment and practice of the musicians

  —> Opportunity to play with others

• There are three “official” books that include music pieces

  —>Fionn Sesiún 1,2,3

• Some branches have their own branch book

• Purpose: branch members will have common repertoire à contribute to session

• Drawback: may contribute to loss of individual style

competitions for traditional irish music and musicians

increased the standart of irish traditional music (technical precision)

debate about standardization

singing styles

solo instruments

ensembles

bands

drum/piano accompaniment

• education and teaching

• competitions

• performances

• recordings and collection

organisation for the promotion and preservation of the uileann and union pipes

membership: for pipers only

• Promotion and encouragement of the playing of the pipes

• Collection and preservation of pipe music

• Assembling of material about pipes and pipers

• Issuing of material

• Spreading of knowledge and promotion of reed- and pipe-making

a week of classes, concerts and sessions for uilleann pipers

aims aligned with Na Píobairí Uilleann